Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos may be in demand this summer.
West Ham United were surprisingly quiet in the January transfer window, but it seemingly wasn’t for the want of trying.
The Hammers saw all of their senior strikers – Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez, Lucas Perez and Andy Carroll – linked with January exits, but none of them ended up leaving.
West Ham were linked with some big-money strikers in case Arnautovic moved on to China, and Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata was one such name touted.
Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio now claims that a €40million (£35million) bid was rejected, and it remains to be seen whether West Ham return with a new offer.
Despite Zapata’s stunning form in Italy, hitting 14 goals in his last 10 games, spending more than £35million on a player who will be 28 in the summer may not be the best idea.
Instead, West Ham should look to Zapata’s fellow Colombian Alfredo Morelos, who has been excelling with Rangers this season having hit 23 goals in 36 games this term.
West Ham would be wise to test the water with a bid of less than half what they offered for Zapata, attempting to convince Rangers into a deal whilst knowing they could go even higher.
Morelos is just 22 and would be a much sounder investment, as Zapata – as impressive as he has been of late – appears to be in a purple patch, and spending big money on a ‘flavour of the month’ player has been a problem in the past.
Some may have concerns about Morelos making the step from Scottish to English football, but just look at Virgil van Dijk; it’s worth investing in those standout young players in Scotland in the hope that they realise their potential in England.
Morelos is more highly regarded in the Colombia set up than Zapata, and whilst Rangers will fight to keep their volatile hitman, his pace, strength and finishing ability should make him a target for West Ham if they overhaul their attacking options this summer.
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